Calcutta-based womenswear label Esha Sethi Thirani, that was previously housed in Queens Park, has come up with a brand new store in Topsia. The brand hosted a launch party that had Shibani Akhtar gracing the event as the special guest. Looking pretty in a Esha Sethi Thirani sari, the ‘producer, presenter, actress, singer’ indulged in a quick chat with t2.
Hi Shibani! You look gorgeous! Tell us what you love about this outfit?
I love the amount of work that has gone into it, it is such an elegant and beautiful piece and one of the best things about this was my ability to put this on myself and that’s very important that you can get in and out of an outfit easily. It’s a readymade sari so I could just throw it over my shoulder. It has a beautiful corset blouse with beading work, making it glamorous and classy.
We love your sense of style. How would you describe it in a sentence?
I would say it’s based on self-expression so whatever my mood is... whether its androgyny or feminine, I wear accordingly.
Three things you will never be caught wearing...
Bandage dresses, definitely not! And maybe A-line type of dresses, because it’s really not my vibe.
Present trend you are crushing on...
The oversized trend has my heart. I just love it!
You looked like a dream on your wedding day. How would you describe your wedding trousseau?
I think my team and I tried to keep it as close to a fine mix of tradition and Western as possible. So every outfit created a kind of look that was made just for me! What I really wanted to do on my wedding day is be comfortable and be stylish in my own way but also keep it traditional. So I wore a Western-style dress because I have spent most of my life in the Western world but I am an Indian girl through and through so we went for red.
Your sister Anusha’s fashion game is top notch too! Do you both share clothes like most siblings do?
(Laughs) She takes a lot of my stuff, while I borrow some of her stuff. My style game is way stronger than hers (laughs). No, I’m just kidding! No, I’m not kidding that’s actually true! I went recently to London and bought 10 pairs of shoes on sale and she went two days later and picked the exact same shoes in the same size!
A fashion tip you would give her...
Borrow things from my wardrobe because that’s what she does! (Laughs) I think she has a great ability to take anything and make it look good.
What is the most precious and fashionable item you have gifted yourself?
The most fashionable thing that I own is something my husband (Farhan Akhtar) gifted me! It’s a red faux fur coat.
In one word, tell us what you love about Farhan’s style...
He is unapologetic about what he wears. He doesn’t care about labels, brands, doesn’t care if people like it or not, he is sorted, he will wear what he likes.
One fashion outfit or accessory you wouldn’t share with anyone...
The red coat he gave me!
Lastly, you have been to Calcutta earlier too, if you could take back a couple of things from here, what would it be?
So usually when I come here I have bekti, the mustard fish dish... it’s so delicious but today I tried this mutton dish (Kosha Mangsho) and it is the most divine thing I have ever had in my life. It was so good!
(From left) Esha Sethi Thirani with husband Adhiraj; Ritika Karnani; Drishleen Sethi with Gurbani Kaur
(From left) t2 columnist Nupur Arya, Designer Deepika Jain; Shikha Metharamani and Deepika Agarwal
(From left) Pooja Prassad with her fave pick from the collection; Priyanka Jaiswal; Preraana Khuller